Scott No: 1951-1954
Serial number: T99
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: October 30, 1984
Denomination: 106 fen
Designers: Dai Dunbang, Li Wei
Size of stamps: 40*52mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 28 (7*4)
Size of S/S: 136*80mm
Stamps of S/S: 90*60mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T99 "Chinese Classical Literature Masterpieces — The Peony Pavilion" special stamps were issued on October 30, 1984. The set consists of 4 stamps plus 1 souvenir sheet, printed by photogravure, designed by Li Wei, with original paintings by Dai Dunbang, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

The Peony Pavilion is a classic chuanqi play by Tang Xianzu of the Ming dynasty and a classic repertoire of Kunqu opera. The story tells of Du Liniang, who visits the garden and dreams, dies for love, and is revived for love, in her pursuit of free love. This set selects four core episodes from the play, using picture-story-style narration to present the romantic and poignant opera story, praising the spirit of young people breaking through the shackles of feudal ethics and pursuing true love, and displaying the uniquely romantic artistic conception of classical opera literature.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

The Women's Schoolroom

The image depicts Du Liniang and Chunxiang listening to their teacher in a private schoolroom. The rigid study environment contrasts with Du Liniang's inner longing for the free spring light—the beginning of the story.

The Interrupted Dream

The image shows Du Liniang and Chunxiang visiting the garden, and in a dream Du Liniang meets Liu Mengmei among the peony flowers. The spring colors of the whole garden awaken the young girl's feelings—the most romantic scene in the entire play.

Portrait

Knowing that her lovesickness has made her ill and that her days are numbered, Du Liniang copies her own face in the mirror and leaves behind a portrait, hoping that her beloved will one day see her likeness—full of deep feeling and melancholy.

Wedding Journey

After Du Liniang returns to life, she and Liu Mengmei travel far by boat on a moonlit night, accompanying and relying on each other, breaking through obstacles to set out for a new life, symbolizing that love finally reaches fulfillment.

Souvenir Sheet: Visiting the Garden

The design excerpts the core scene of visiting the garden and the interrupted dream, surrounded by abundant peony flowers under a hazy moonlight, concentrating on the classic scene of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei meeting in a dream, with a distant and profound artistic conception.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the traditional fine-brush heavy-color opera figure painting style, with the figures' costumes and stage settings fitting the aesthetics of Ming dynasty opera stages, and rich, elegant colors. The four stamps are arranged in the order of the story's development, with coherent narration, like an opera picture-story book. Dai Dunbang's characterization is delicate and vivid, condensing the grace and romance of classical opera into the square inch of the stamps. It is a classic work among JT stamps on the theme of classical literature and opera.